The news of their new task did not go down well with the other children, just as Theora had feared.
"But that house is so dirty!" Glanys exclaimed. "There will be big rats!"
"Are you sure the Marshall asked this, Theora?" Yulke asked her.
"Yes," Theo sighed, annoyed. "Quil told me all this right before she left for the city! We have to clean the house, get rid of the mice if there are any and put in new linen, too!"
Yulke didn't look convinced, and the other children even less. They were standing at the entrance of the tunnel, most of them already looking unhappy about going back to the mud, except for the younger ones.
"L-look, it's not that I don't believe you," said Yulke. "It's just a bit sudden..."
"I don't care!" Theo exclaimed, annoyed. "You can shovel the stupid mud, I wi
